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Legal Consequences Rule 1-3-2 Note  The NFHS is aware that bat altering is on the rise.  Bat manufacturers are also aware and extremely concerned about their products being misrepresented and altered.  It is extremely important that coaches express to their players and their parents the importance of not altering or modifying bats.  Rationale: Risk Minimization.

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Coach’s Box Equipment Rule 3-3-1i  Permissible Equipment: Stopwatch Hard copy of the NFHS Baseball Rules book Hard copy of a scorebook Cellular phone (in pocket) for emergencies.  PENALTY: Umpire may restrict the offender to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game or eject the offender.  Rationale: Clarification of permitted items in the coach’s box.

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Extra Warm up Throws Rule 6-2-2c Exception  If a pitcher is ejected, an incoming pitcher should be afforded the same warm up opportunity as he would if he was replacing an injured pitcher.  The umpire-in-chief may grant more pitchers to warm up the new pitcher’s arm.  Rationale: Clarification of the treatment of an incoming pitcher.

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Editorial Changes

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Dead Ball and Delayed Dead Ball Table  Awards or Penalties #23. “Batter is out. Coach is restricted to the dugout/bench upon first offense, then ejected after second offense….7-4-a, 1-3-5, 4-1-3b Penalty.  Rationale: Editorial.

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Points of Emphasis

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Legal/Illegal Pitching Position  Rules governing the pitcher’s position on the pitcher’s plate and movement have remained constant over the last several decades.  Modified and hybrid positions have become popular at higher levels of baseball.  These creative pitcher’s stances might be appropriate at the advanced levels but not for the age and skill level of a typical high school pitcher.  Umpires must be aware of the position of the non-pivot foot.

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Pace of Game Play  The committee identified these areas in need of improvements that detract from what otherwise is an exciting and enjoyable game:  Handling offensive and defensive charged conferences in a timely manner.  Speeding up the time between innings and during pitching changes.  Umpires diligently counting the number of warm-up pitches.  The batter’s box rule (the batter must generally keep one foot in the box during an at-bat). Unless it meets one of the eight exceptions:

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Pace of Game Play (Batter’s box rule exceptions) The batter swings at the pitch. The batter is forced out of the box by the pitch. The batter attempts a “drag bunt.” The pitcher or catcher feints or attempts a play at any base. The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound or takes a position more than five feet from the pitcher’s plate after receiving the ball. A member of either team requests and is granted “Time.” The catcher leaves the catcher’s box to adjust his equipment or give defensive signals. The catcher does not catch the pitched ball.

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Compliant Bats  Altering bats by such methods as rolling, shaving the bat wall, flattening or otherwise manipulating the bat from its original manufactured condition is a federal offense.  Not only is it illegal but it can cause injury or worse to a young person.  The NFHS is committed to eliminating altered bats from interscholastic baseball.

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Risk Minimization  High school baseball reports some of the lowest injuries than other NFHS sports.  Dedicated coaches and officials are the key to such success.  Attention should be given to the following: Loose equipment, Weather conditions, The role of the “protector”.

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Good Sporting Behavior  Coaches and Umpires must work together. Each contest is another opportunity for coaches and umpires to teach not only baseball skills, but also model respectful behavior as well as professional relationships.  Game situations typically provide a coach the opportunity to identify a “teachable moment” to reinforce good sporting behavior.

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Umpires Manual Change

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Delayed - Dead Ball Signal Removed  The Delayed - Dead Ball Signal is removed but not the article (5-1-2) from the Rules book and the Umpires Manual.  In lieu of using that signal when one of the seven scenarios that constitute a delayed dead ball situation occurs, the umpire will allow for playing action to cease, call “Time!”, identify the infraction and make his award.  Rationale: Infrequently used signal that did not contribute to the overall set of umpire mechanics.

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Delayed - Dead Ball Situations  The seven scenarios that constitute delayed dead ball situations are the following: Batter interferes with the catcher as he attempts to play on a runner. A catcher or any fielder obstructing a batter or runner or through use of detached player equipment. Umpire interference with the catcher attempting to throw. Any offensive team personnel that calls “Time” or uses other command or commits any action for the purpose of trying to cause the pitcher to balk. Anyone who is required to wear a batting helmet deliberately removes the helmet, while the ball is in live-ball territory and the ball is live. A coach physically assists a runner. A ball touches an illegal glove/mitt.

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 In the NFHS Umpires Manual under the 2- Man Mechanic section, we have repositioned the umpire, with runners on third and first base, U2 will be in the “B” position.  Rationale: It is a better position for any pick off attempt by pitcher or catcher at first or third base. U2 is closest to the delayed double steal rundown play. It is the ideal position for watching R2 touching second base on any base hit.

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Sports Medicine Report

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Baseball Injury Data  The NFHS High School RIO TM has reported that boys’ baseball has one of the lowest injury rates among the boys’ sports studied.  Most Common injuries: Sprains (19.6%) Strains (18.7%) Fractures (16%)  Most Common Body Sites: Head/Face (17.2%) Shoulder (16.6%)

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Thank you for your time and commitment to high school baseball. Have a great season!